Thursday, January 9, 2014

I Don't Like Grumpy


Ha fooled ya....probably not.  But as I was strolling thru some of this past summer's images, found this one and figured some of you out there in deep winterland would appreciate some summer-time color. It will return, I promise eventho some of us are buried and shivering and apparently bored as to be looking at last summer's images.  Last year I was begging for snow, now not so much....I think I am feeling a little trapped....what is wrong with me....never, never satisfied.  Because of our very frigid temps many roads are still a little icey-dicey and the piles are getting higher each day.  In fact it is snowing right now as I look out the window.   Not much, and tomorrow's forecast is for rain.  ay yi yi where is all this moisture going to go?  Icicles are starting their dreaded formations...these are mine at the backside of the house.


Hmmm, I have read several blogs about troubles with blogger.  I was feeling so smug that I had not experienced any of their issues and just as I was writing this, a message popped up saying that I had unlogged from a site, did I want to re-log back in and then wham, half of my post was gone.  Maybe it was reading my "bitching" words and decided to stop me in my tracks.

I was complaining about the depth of the snow and how my "weak" ankles are not the least bit sturdy manipulating thru the heights and worrying about dropping my camera when blogger decided to delete that portion of my post.  Hmmm

What's with the starlings sticking around this winter??  Yesterday I saw them hanging around a restaurant's garbage bins and today this in my backyard....and no, I do not have garbage in my backyard.


I am trying to capture more compelling images since that is my "word" for the year.  The only thing I find compelling in this is the need to hire someone to remove all of this "ivy" that is growing on the west and north sides of my house.  I planted the green ivy....the brown came from my next door neighbor.  Don't know if it was planted or drifted in from parts unknown, but it is extremely aggressive and probably is doing some damage to the siding of my house.


I have 3 huge things on my "to-do" list and I keep putting them off, keep putting them on the back-burner, keep doing everything but what I should be doing.  That is probably why I am in a cranky mood. And I know the answer is to get busy and get them done, complete and finished.  But first....


lunch.  My daughter gave me some soup mixes for Christmas.  Frankly I thought it was a brilliant idea since she knows I don't do much cookin' anymore and these soups are simply delicious.  The one pictured above is called "Florida Sunshine Red Pepper Corn Chowder" from Frontier Soups.com.  I first discovered Frontier Soups several years ago at a craft show.  It was one of the "classiests" craft shows I ever attended.  I won't go into detail because it "unfortunately" no long exists, but that was my first introduction to these soups.  They were made by a woman from Waukegan, IL, a neighbor so to speak, who loved cooking.  Her friends and family urged her to go "into business" because they were so delicious which led her to "Frontier Soups".  A dry mix with you adding the fresh ingredients.  They are healthy, no salt added, gluten free and mighty tasty!!  She has a bounty of choices.   If you go to the website there are a variety of soups, appetizers, bread mixes and apparently she has expanded all over the United States.  Wow, just from her kitchen to the world, love it!!  If you can't find a store near you, order from the website, they ship!!

So I better stop and get busy with one of those HUGE items on my list.  If I don't I'll stay grumpy and I don't like grumpy.

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."  ~  John Rohn



Little by Little

Until next time.....

24 comments:

  1. curious - when does a soup become a chowder? i wonder? i will have to look that up. is it a certain ingredients that makes it a proper chowder? google here i come. ( :

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  2. yes, blogger has been acting up today for quite a few folks. i like your handsome or haughty starling. the ivy is pretty, but surely is eating into your siding.

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  3. That is a great photo of that bird on the post. Perfect. Sorry you are feeling grumpy but I saw some shots of the terrible weather in Chicago, and can't say that i blame you. That soup looks yummy. Won't be long until the end of march.... hope it will be spring where we are going to be

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  4. Oh, my, yes! I think I will check out that website. I don't like to cook any more than I have to. And, yes, oh, yes, again! I did love seeing those lovely rudbeckia when your page popped open! I tend to get grumpy, too, when I have too much on my to-do list ... or things I don't want to do. It does feel so good to check them off, so get moving, sister! And smile.

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  5. I love soup, I think I make one or two a week. Honestly even in summer. Since I live alone it is one of the things that keeps me going having soup ready for me at any time. I usually freeze a lot because it usually makes so much. Love the stuff I will check this out sounds perfect. Love that little bird and his markings.

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  6. I am sorry you are grumpy but your weather would make anyone want to head south....but further south than us...it's cold here....but hey your soup looks delicious....thanks for sharing the website...Sweet Fisherman and I live off soup in the winter so I am definitely going to check it out.....Let us know how the chores are coming along...hahaha

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  7. I truly loved feasting my eyes on your flowers, and your bird, and your soup. Deanna, I had cheezies for lunch, and now I feel sick ...

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  8. The summer flash-back was refreshing. I returned home from wonderful (translate: perfect) sunny California to sub-zero temperatures and a nasty head/chest cold. Cruel! We have an old house and I swear some of the plant growth has moved in from some Zimbabwe jungle and all the weeding in the world will not deter it. There you go - think about all the weeding necessary in summer ... now that wintery stuff isn't so bad.

    Oh, and that soup nearly has me hugging the monitor - my throat is crying out loud for something warm and tasty between the volumes of water I have consumed.

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  9. Hope you got at least one thing on that "to do" list done. That Starling looks grouchy, too - must be the weather. Now I'll google that soup - sure looks yummy on a cold winter's day.

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  10. Love the bird on the hydrangea shot, and the soup looks delicious.

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  11. The photo of the Starling is wonderful . . . clarity plus. Enjoyed hearing about the soup mixes and a place to purchase them. I found a place a few months ago in Grand Rapids, Michigan that has some of the same and also homemade pasta.

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  12. That first shot has me smiling.. I sure do miss spring and seeing flowers. But I guess that just makes me appreciate them more when they are here. That soup looks so yummy,
    Stay warm my friend.

    Hugs~

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  13. I would happily take some of your snow, if I could! I'm sure the novelty wears thin quickly. I feel a little better knowing that blogger is acting up for many. I just started a Blogger site for my biz, and it has been the biggest headache, as in I can't even post one single post yet. I have had it over a week. It's has frustrated me to no end. Also, people on blogger platforms have had trouble commenting on my Wordpress blog. So, I'm standing with you in frustrated solidarity. You may need to pass me a bowl of that delicious soup to smooth my nerves.

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  14. I think the starlings are following you around for gorgeous photo ops! :-) That chowder looks yummy. I will have to check out that website, too. I'm not a big cook, but maybe I could handle something like that. :-)

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  15. Hi I hope you were able to get rid of grumpy!! The 1st shot of beautiful and fresh looking. I love the icicles but gad they are on your house not mine. the soup looks good. The Starling shot is excellent. Yes I am one of the people who cannot upload photos so I now feel I am on a count down to stopping blogging at present. II have a few in draft and then that's it!

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  16. loved all your photos as always Deanna; that first one of the cheery yellow flowers was a real lead in. The ivy on your siding I'd be thinking the same as you - that it really unfortunately will probably do more harm the longer it remains; shame. The starling is fantastic, and so too that soup dish.

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  17. I don't for one minute, believe that you are grumpy!!
    Maybe just "less than thrilled?" Yes, that's better! :-)
    Hope you get done, what you need to get done.
    I just love the photograph of that little starling.

    Have a wonderful weekend, Deanna!

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  18. Those icicles! Wow!

    I am such a winter person - I get bummed if the weather gets warm!!

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  19. I just love the photo of the starling on the hydrangea. Excellent capture! It's starting to get a bit warmer here (thank heavens!) and hope that you're starting to warm up too!

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  20. that soup looks delicious. And, yes. The ivy is doing very heavy damage to your house. Put it on your to do list right away.

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  21. I wondered how long before some of the snow loving people would be wishing it gone. - I know I would have complained long before this. - I must say that picture of the Starling is just wonderful. Oh and that soup looks delicious. I may need to check that company out. We love homemade soups.

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  22. I LOVE Frontier Soups! I first bought some at a craft fair and I loved the convenience and deliciousness! I hate all the chopping you usually have to do with most homemade soups so these are perfect. Their corn chowder was always one of my favorites. Your little bird shot is so cute but I can't imagine why he is still sticking around your frigid snow country! You should ask him if he wants to hitch a ride with you to Arizona!

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  23. “I don’t like grumpy” – no one does in my opinion. But looking at the ivy on your exterior, you can’t help but be like that. Good thing that there are good things happening to you at the moment. I hope you call a contractor, not only to remove the ivy but also to check your siding.

    Joann @ AJCRoofing.com

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